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Monday, January 19, 2015

Coloured Balls - Ball Power

It's
been a looooooong time since I heard something that really knocked my
socks off. A few months ago I was at a record show in my neighborhood.
I'm talking to one of the dealers and he says "You love AC/DC and Rose
Tattoo. Do you have this?" He hands me a copy of Ball Power by the band
Coloured Balls. I'd heard the name for years as a major influence on the
Australian hard rock scene but never heard anything by them. Since the
album was already in my hands I decided to pick it up.

When
I got home and put it on, opening track "Flash" hit me hard. I knew I
had a winner here. "Flash" starts off with a heavy Rolling Stones
influence but very raw and rocking. I was immediately reminded of Eddie
& The Hot Rods at their MC5-inspired best. The second song "Won't
You Make Up Your Mind" really threw me for a loop. It's a blistering
punk rock song clocking in at 1:13 that sounds very much like something
out of 1976 England. Except this is Australia 1973. How the hell did
this happen? Who in the UK had this record? "Something New" follows it
up and sounds like an early version of AC/DC's "Squealer." "B.P.R." is a
short, slow blues song that gets cut off abruptly before the uptempo
"Human Being" kicks in. I have no idea which came first, but it reminds
me of the New York Dolls song "Human Being" (also released in 73).

Side
two starts off with a rocking version of Jerry Lee's "Whole Lotta
Shakin" that borrows from Mountain's version of "Roll Over Beethoven."
It's not difficult to imagine young Angus and Malcolm watching these
guys and taking notes. "Hey! What's Your Name?" is like a punk rock
version of Free's "Alright Now." The album wraps up with some
Hawkwind-ish guitar noise on "That's What Mama Said." This song is 10
minutes of flat out boogie with some really wigged out guitar soloing
from band leader Lobby Loyde.

Ball
Power was a real revelation to me. Part of me is pissed I've been
missing out on it all these years, but it's cool to discover new jams.
Re-issued by Sing Sing Records here in New York City, the album sounds
great and the gatefold sleeve is heavy, heavy duty! It's so thick it
won't fit into any of my LP bags without splitting the seams. If you're
into high energy power boogie rock n roll, this album is mandatory.

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